This past summer, the production team and cast of It Ends With Us found themselves at the center of a turbulent controversy, according to numerous reports. The drama ignited when vigilant TikTok users observed that film star Blake Lively and her co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, did not pose for photographs together during the premiere held on August 6, 2024, in New York City. Speculations began to circulate, suggesting that the cast was distancing themselves from Justin, a narrative that intensified when he opted to hire a crisis public relations manager. By the end of 2024, tensions escalated further when Blake filed a lawsuit against Justin, alleging sexual harassment that occurred on the set of their film.

Hollywood Life delves into the intricate timeline detailing the unfolding drama and the ensuing legal battle between Blake and Justin, providing insights below.

Unraveling Tensions: The Early Signs of Conflict

On August 14, 2024, TMZ revealed that noticeable discomfort existed between Blake and Justin during the filming of a pivotal kissing scene. Insiders disclosed that the A Simple Favor actress felt that the director lingered uncomfortably long while capturing the intimate moment on camera. This revelation sparked discussions about boundary violations in professional settings, raising questions about the dynamics of their working relationship.

Moreover, sources indicated that Blake experienced feelings of being “fat-shamed” by Justin during a scene where his character, Ryle, lifts her character, Lilly, into the air. Allegedly, Justin, who has a history of back issues, inquired about Blake’s weight from an on-set trainer, which she interpreted as a personal attack on her body image. This incident, along with the discomfort during the filming, contributed to an increasingly fraught atmosphere on set, highlighting the importance of sensitivity and respect in collaborative environments.

Page Six reported that an eyewitness recounted observing palpable “tension” emanating from Blake while on the set of It Ends With Us, further emphasizing the challenges faced by the cast.

According to the source, “The tension was so obvious,” adding that once Blake completed her scene, she appeared visibly impatient, exclaiming, ‘Am I done? Can I go?’ The moment she received confirmation that she was finished, she left the scene in a hurry, creating what felt like a “Blake-size hole in the wall.” This reaction underscores the emotional toll that the filming process may have taken on her, revealing the high-stress nature of the environment.

As fans speculated about the possibility of Blake and Justin collaborating on a sequel titled It Starts With Us, a source confided to Variety on August 27, 2024, stating that “there is no world where these two will work together again.”

“This is uncharted territory, and nobody has any idea of what a sequel could look like,” the insider elaborated, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding future projects and collaborations within Hollywood amidst personal conflicts.

The Escalation of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni’s Dispute

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the working relationship between the filmmakers began to suffer significantly during the post-production phase. The publication detailed that two distinct cuts of the film were created, which allegedly led to creative disagreements and divisions that further complicated their professional dynamics.

As keen observers on social media noted, Blake and It Ends With Us book author Colleen Hoover do not follow Justin on Instagram, despite him following them. This lack of mutual social media engagement indicates deeper rifts, and it seems that the cast’s relationships deteriorated beyond just online interactions.

PEOPLE reported on August 13, 2024, that the rumored tensions involving Justin extended to the entire “principal cast” and Colleen, suggesting widespread discontent.

“All is not what it seems,” an insider from the set disclosed to the publication. “There is much more to this story. The principal cast and Elisabeth McGowan, along with Colleen Hoover, will have nothing to do with him.” This statement hints at a complex narrative beneath the surface that remains to be fully uncovered.

Blake Lively Takes Legal Action Against Justin Baldoni

On December 21, 2024, TMZ reported that Blake took a significant step by filing a lawsuit against Justin for alleged sexual harassment. The lawsuit claimed that during an all-hands-on-deck meeting on the set of It Ends With Us, the cast and crew addressed the troubling allegations surrounding a toxic work environment. The meeting covered several demands aimed at improving workplace conditions, which included prohibiting the display of explicit materials to Blake and restricting conversations regarding Justin’s purported “pornography addiction.”

Moreover, the lawsuit outlined additional demands such as avoiding discussions about sexual experiences in front of Blake and refraining from making inappropriate remarks about the cast and crew’s genitalia. Another critical demand noted was to eliminate any further inquiries about Blake’s weight, emphasizing the importance of creating a respectful and safe working environment.

Additionally, TMZ reported that It Ends With Us struggled at the box office, partly due to the creative differences between Blake and Justin regarding the film’s marketing strategy. Blake reportedly wanted to emphasize her character’s resilience, while Justin aimed for a more serious tone, given the film’s subject matter surrounding domestic violence, highlighting the challenges faced in aligning creative visions.

In response to Blake’s lawsuit, Justin’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, issued a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, labeling her claims as “shameful.” He accused Blake and her representatives of making serious and categorically false allegations against Mr. Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, suggesting that this was a desperate attempt to repair her public image, which had suffered due to her own comments and behavior during the promotional campaign for the film.

Justin Baldoni Files a Defamation Lawsuit Against ‘The New York Times’

On December 31, Variety reported that Justin initiated a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times over an article titled, “We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.” Representing himself and several other plaintiffs, Bryan filed a complaint alleging promissory fraud and breach of an implied-in-fact contract, which underlines the serious implications of media narratives in shaping public perception.

In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for NYT stated, “The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead. Our story was meticulously and responsibly reported. It was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including the text messages and emails that we quote accurately and at length in the article. To date, Wayfarer Studios, Mr. Baldoni, the other subjects of the article, and their representatives have not pointed to a single error. We published their full statement in response to the allegations in the article as well. We plan to vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”